This is the celebrated journal of Mr. Simon Collison A.K.A Colly

Domino Records Night at Hafnarhus

22nd October 2004

Last night was special. Domino Records hosted a unique gig inside Reykjavik’s incredible Hafnarhus (Harbour Gallery), featuring Fourtet, Adem, To Rococo Rot, Leeds boys Hood and Iceland’s own amazing Slowblow. Read on for more…

[ All photos by Emily Dawes ]

Normally a vast art gallery (imagine the most contemporary space you can), Hafnarhus was transformed into one of the greatest venues I’ve ever entered. A central courtyard, curved roof, vast steel doors, beautiful lights - it was clear this was gonna be a magical event - and it was.

A patient, polite crowd soaked up the mechanical instrumentalism of To Rococo Rot, the gorgeous strains of Adem and his full band, tight indie songsmithery from Hood, and a rather head-crunching set from Fourtet and his two laptops. However, hit of the night had to be Iceland’s Slowblow - delicate, crunching, soft, hard, contradictory elegance and brilliance all wrapped up in exemplory delivery. This band have been around in Iceland for ages, but have never really picked up a big following. The girl who used to be in Mum (Kristin Anna Valtysdottir) even played a saw at one point. Stirring stuff.

I could go on and on about this amazing gig. I could tell you how we managed to get drinks off the rider, how we joked about harmoniums with Adem‘s band, how fucking cold it was outside etc. I won’t though, my fingers are too cold.

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